Chemical fertilisers are undermining the country's soil - Researcher

Mr Michael Yao Tomfeah, an environmental activist has expressed dissatisfaction about the over-reliance of Ghanaian farmers on the use of chemical fertilisers, which, he said was undermining the country's soil fertility.

He said that the use of chemical fertilisers render arable land unproductive after three years of continuous use and also pollute water bodies.

Mr Tomfeah who is the Head of a German non-governmental organisation Afrika Wiederaufforstungverein e.v. called for the use of compost and other organic fertilisers, which he said, were environmentally friendly and equally potent for farming.

He said Ghanaians should also embrace agro-forestry by planting more trees and stop setting bushfires, which degrade the soil and destroy lives and property.

Mr Tomfeah appealed to the Ministry of Transportation to construct more feeder roads to farming communities to assist the carting of foodstuffs and also minimise post-harvest losses facing a number of farmers.

He said post-harvest losses facilitate the importation of food to the country which undermined local agricultural production.

Mr Tomfeah said research had shown that some of the imported agricultural products were of inferior quality and tended to undermine the health of Ghanaians.

"Why should we import turkey tails, pig feet from Europe and America when we have very nutritious foods in Ghana?"

Source: GNA